Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart

44 THE THIRD BOOKE
THE VERTUOUS SPEECH OF A DISEASED MAN, MOST PATIENT IN
HIS SICKNESSE.
My flefli Hill having 1 beene an enemy
Unto my fpirit, it fliould glad my heart
That paines, which feize now on my body, may
Be profitable to my better part ;
For though difeafes feeme at firft unpleafant,
They point us out the way we ought to goe ;
Admonifh us exadlly of our prefent
Ellate ; and t' us at lafl this favour fliew,
That they enlarge us from that ruinous,
Clofe, and darke prifon, which confined us.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SORRY TO BE DESTITUTE OF ANY THING, SO
LONG AS WE HAVE JUDGMENTS TO PERSWADE VS THAT WE MAY
MINISTER TO OURSELVES WHAT WE HAVE NOT, BY NOT LONGING
FOR IT.
To want what I ihould have, fliould never make
My heart leffe cheerfull ; reafon ftill requiring
That I be pleaf'd whatPever things I lacke,
To furnifli to my felfe, by not defiring ;
For not to wifli for things, againft the griefe
Of feare and fruflrate hopes, provides reliefe.
THAT VERTUE IS BETTER AND MORE POVVERFULL THAN FORTUNE.
Vertue denyeth nought, but what to grant
Hurts the receiver, and is good to want ;
Nor takes flie ought away, which would not croffe
The owner, and is lucrative to lofle ;
She no man can deceive ; flie lookes not flrange ;
Nor is lhe fubjecl; to the meaneft change :
Embrace her then, for flie can give that which
Will, without gold or filver, make you rich.